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Alpine park – too much for checkerspot butterfly and spadefoot toad?
Sports area would bump up against Cleveland National Forest,
Quino checkerspot butterfly
A draft habitat conservation plan has been released for what will be Alpine's first public park — unless a lawsuit filed against the county last month stops it in its tracks.
The $43-million-dollar project includes a 25-acre sports park and a 67.5-acre nature preserve open to the public. The first phase which covers about 10 acres in the northern section of the park is expected to be completed at the end of the year.
Proposed playground
In 2019, the Department of Parks and Recreation bought 98 acres of land to create the Alpine Community Park — part of the county's goal to provide every community with 10 acres of public park land for every 1,000 residents.
Other goals stated for the project were to protect native species and prevent new development from infringing on open space trails and wildlife corridors.
But the 25-acre sports park would bump up against the Cleveland National Forest, home to more than 25 threatened or endangered wildlife species. Ball fields, a skate park, a dog park and many more amenities, including 240 parking spots with solar carports, would exist next to Wright’s Field Ecological Preserve off South Grade Road.
According to the county, the open space preserve's 72 acres serve as a natural barrier between the sports park and Wright’s Field.
A lawsuit filed by the Cleveland National Forest Foundation and California Native Plant Society claims the project threatens the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly, western spadefoot (a toad), and the pallid bat, yet the county provided no alternative locations when they approved the park and its environmental impact report on December 6, 2023.
Cleveland National Forest meadow
Multiple plant species are also at risk, the groups say, such as Palmer’s Grappling Hook, Decumbent Goldenbush, and Delicate Clarkia. They point to loss of open space, more traffic accidents and threats of wildfire; impacts the county refutes on the project web page.
The habitat conservation plan, a collaboration between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the county parks department, describes what happens if the "incidental take" permit is granted. It mentions losses of the federally Endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly and the federally proposed threatened western spadefoot. No mention is made of the pallid bat.
Wildlife casualties would be reduced by seasonal restrictions, preconstruction surveys, and possibly by moving species to a new location. Losses would be offset by protecting the park preserve, enhancing butterfly habitat, and creating breeding pools for western spadefoot.
Western spadefoot tadpoles
For the butterfly, the conservation plan describes direct impacts on two adults, 22.4 acres of occupied habitat, and 17,695 individual host plants covering 5,217 square feet.
Six adult toads would lose over 23 acres of habitat used during estivation (a dormant phase) and a breeding pool.
While many residents welcome the outdoor amenities, others consider it "too much"; they want to see parks in Alpine but not a large sports complex. The Alpine Community Planning Group voted in favor of the park in 2021.
The current phase-one work involves utilities, northern trail connections, playgrounds, the dog park, an equestrian staging area, picnic areas, community garden, park office and restrooms, sports courts and parking.
However, that work has stopped completely, says Duncan McFetridge, the executive director of Cleveland National Forest Foundation. The lawsuit is now in the briefing process for trial court.
"The stipulation was that no work, even preliminary, would be done until the case is litigated."
The public can submit comments on the draft conservation plan through February 20.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Alpine park – too much for checkerspot butterfly and spadefoot toad?
Sports area would bump up against Cleveland National Forest,
Alpine park – too much for checkerspot butterfly and spadefoot toad?
Sports area would bump up against Cleveland National Forest,
Quino checkerspot butterfly
A draft habitat conservation plan has been released for what will be Alpine's first public park — unless a lawsuit filed against the county last month stops it in its tracks.
The $43-million-dollar project includes a 25-acre sports park and a 67.5-acre nature preserve open to the public. The first phase which covers about 10 acres in the northern section of the park is expected to be completed at the end of the year.
Proposed playground
In 2019, the Department of Parks and Recreation bought 98 acres of land to create the Alpine Community Park — part of the county's goal to provide every community with 10 acres of public park land for every 1,000 residents.
Other goals stated for the project were to protect native species and prevent new development from infringing on open space trails and wildlife corridors.
But the 25-acre sports park would bump up against the Cleveland National Forest, home to more than 25 threatened or endangered wildlife species. Ball fields, a skate park, a dog park and many more amenities, including 240 parking spots with solar carports, would exist next to Wright’s Field Ecological Preserve off South Grade Road.
According to the county, the open space preserve's 72 acres serve as a natural barrier between the sports park and Wright’s Field.
A lawsuit filed by the Cleveland National Forest Foundation and California Native Plant Society claims the project threatens the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly, western spadefoot (a toad), and the pallid bat, yet the county provided no alternative locations when they approved the park and its environmental impact report on December 6, 2023.
Cleveland National Forest meadow
Multiple plant species are also at risk, the groups say, such as Palmer’s Grappling Hook, Decumbent Goldenbush, and Delicate Clarkia. They point to loss of open space, more traffic accidents and threats of wildfire; impacts the county refutes on the project web page.
The habitat conservation plan, a collaboration between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the county parks department, describes what happens if the "incidental take" permit is granted. It mentions losses of the federally Endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly and the federally proposed threatened western spadefoot. No mention is made of the pallid bat.
Wildlife casualties would be reduced by seasonal restrictions, preconstruction surveys, and possibly by moving species to a new location. Losses would be offset by protecting the park preserve, enhancing butterfly habitat, and creating breeding pools for western spadefoot.
Western spadefoot tadpoles
For the butterfly, the conservation plan describes direct impacts on two adults, 22.4 acres of occupied habitat, and 17,695 individual host plants covering 5,217 square feet.
Six adult toads would lose over 23 acres of habitat used during estivation (a dormant phase) and a breeding pool.
While many residents welcome the outdoor amenities, others consider it "too much"; they want to see parks in Alpine but not a large sports complex. The Alpine Community Planning Group voted in favor of the park in 2021.
The current phase-one work involves utilities, northern trail connections, playgrounds, the dog park, an equestrian staging area, picnic areas, community garden, park office and restrooms, sports courts and parking.
However, that work has stopped completely, says Duncan McFetridge, the executive director of Cleveland National Forest Foundation. The lawsuit is now in the briefing process for trial court.
"The stipulation was that no work, even preliminary, would be done until the case is litigated."
The public can submit comments on the draft conservation plan through February 20.